The first concept of its kind, a 7,432 m2 store, officially opens in Watford on Monday, and will be one of Tesco’s largest UK stores.

The branch will feature a refreshed Tesco store, food concepts including Harris + Hoole, which was branded by SomeOne and features interiors designed by Path Design; Euphorium; The Bakery Project; Giraffe, which Tesco acquired in March this year, and a new F+F fashion concession.

Cook and Dine area

Other concepts include a redesigned merchandise area focusing on Homeware and Cook and Dine, and a free-to-use community space holding classes such as yoga, baby gym and cookery classes.

Homewares section

The health and beauty department will offer beauty treatments and a nail bar, and other services offered include a Pharmacy, Opticians, health shop Nutri-Centre, and Click & Collect.

Technology area

Chris Bush, Tesco UK managing director, says, ‘Watford represents a fundamental change in the way that people are doing their shopping. More and more of our customers are shopping for leisure; they want to browse for clothes, eat a meal or grab a cup of coffee, as well as do their weekly shop.

‘It offers us a glimpse into what stores of the future might look like and we’re really excited to be sharing that with our customers.’

What do retail experts think of the new store?

‘The impressive new Tesco concept could be defined as a series of set pieces in a much-improved shell. The obvious headline-grabbers, the sub-branded cafe, bakery, restaurant and the improved fashion offer, are really important, but it will be interesting to see how the general enhancements improve the customer experience and positively increase sales, which is the ultimate goal. Initial customer response on Twitter has been very, very positive. The total look feels warmer and more human than before, it’s amazing what a few timber slats can do to change your perception of a space. The ‘set pieces’ here would enhance many stores in the Tesco portfolio, roll-out could be fast and deep and the benefits could be significant. My personal concern is how Tesco will effect my local Euphorium Bakery and Giraffe, I won’t have that same warm feeling shopping and eating in those outlets anymore.’

David Dalziel, group creative director, Dalziel & Pow

‘There’s much to admire in this ambitious fusion of value and indulgence shopping. The brand collaborations that form this offer are particularly eye-catching and reflect a growing consumer demand for authentic experiences. Borrowing the authority of independent operators is a mature strategy for a brand that knows its core strength as a value grocery retailer. It’s a strategy that might unnerve some who perceive a Tesco brand that is assimilating independent and niche experiences into one collective big box. It will be interesting to see if Tesco go on to collaborate with a wider portfolio of independents and at a local level. The opportunity for Tesco will be to bring the many virtues of the Watford store to our high streets and neighbourhoods without fatally eroding their local diversity and texture.’

Lewis Allen, director of environments, Portland

‘It’s good but not before time – it should have happened two years ago. Tesco are lucky the competition is even slower!’

Read this next

This may be a well-designed and considered retail outlet, but the mega centre run by supermarkets – this is exactly why the UK’s high streets are dying. It is fatal for local diversity or personality. You just need to look at Margate or Nottingham with the highest vacancy rates and nearby supermarket centres.

Once just a grocery store that complemented a diverse retail mix, the supermarket now has to be the epicentre of the universe. And planning law deems that these sorts of developments are good for a community? Free space to hold a yoga class? Yoga and Tesco in the same breath?

The brand ‘collaborations’ – Tesco’s strategy of buying up independent chains like Harris + Poole and Giraffe – is indicative of how out of control our economic system is. Where does it stop?

‘It offers us a glimpse into what stores of the future might look like’. Let’s hope not. No matter how well designed, or how fabulous the brand collaborations, I don’t want to live in a standardised world where Tesco thinks it knows what’s best for a community.

As I live just round the corner this is my local store, and for the most part the new store is awful!! The coffee shop & restaurant are both quite expensive, and the shelving looks more like it belongs in a utility shed than a supermarket – they are quite imposing. The ‘quick shop’ lunch area is convenient, the fresh produce areas are improved, as are the cosmetic and health sections, but all other areas feel like a great reduction in choice. The greatest improvement is the ability to self-scan as you shop, meaning you can get out of the horrible new shop quicker!

Consultancy Aesop has completed some beautiful but harrowing work for charity Unseen, which campaigns against modern day slavery. Aesop worked with illustrators such as Tom Jay and Radio to create what at first appear to be festive paper chains – but on closer inspection, depict individual stories of recent victims of slavery. The paper chains […]

Consultancy Sheridan&Co has designed the branding for fitness studio Opus based in Notting Hill, London. The studio was formerly known as DKPT, so has been renamed and received a new visual look and website. Sheridan&Co also created a new strapline “Fitness to Inspire”. Michael Sheridan, founder at Sheridan&Co, says the rebrand hopes to convey the […]

Jasper Conran has opened a hotel in Marrakech, Morocco, based in a 19th century riad. L’Hôtel Marrakech is comprised of five suites, which surround a courtyard garden and swimming pool. It includes pieces of Moroccan antique furniture, textiles, lighting and art, all taken from Conran’s collection. Conran worked on the restoration of the building with […]

Cardiff-based Bluegg has launched a countrywide awareness campaign in Wales to prevent drivers from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs over the Christmas period. The campaign was produced in collaboration with the five police forces in Wales, and is designed to tap into people’s emotions by depicting a family dealing with the loss […]

Founder Phoa Kia Boon and creative director Clifford Hiscock have designed The New Black, a coffee shop on Philpot Lane in central London. Design features include stainless steel benches which hide the coffee machines, steel and glass bench seating areas and a “bean counter” near the entrance, where customers are able to smell the individual […]

Fourth year students on the product design engineering programme at the Glasgow School of Art have designed a collection of products in collaboration with the GSA shop. The students were briefed to create designs which would allow them to experiment with materials and manufacturing techniques, while also having commercial appeal. The products, which include a […]

Build has designed the brand identity for the new interior collection by modular furniture and homeware workshop, Plæy. The identity comprises a new modular-inspired logo and icon, which will be applied to all print and digital collateral.

Drinkall Dean has designed the new shop and ticket area for Tower Bridge Exhibition’s Engine Rooms, which house the steam engines, furnaces and accumulators once used to power the raising of Tower Bridge. Design elements include brass shelves inspired by trays in the engine rooms and a series of coloured steel shelves which are used […]